Medford High graduate completes Navy basic training

Benjamin “Ben” Candee, a 2017 Medford High School graduate, recently completed his Navy basic training at the Recruit Training Command located in Great Lakes, Illinois.

Candee was a high-honors student, a four-year varsity athlete in cross-country and track, and the winner of the “M-Club’s” Mark Comfort Award in both his junior and senior years. The ceremony for graduating sailors is called “Pass-in-Review (PIR)” and is the culmination of eight weeks of progressively intensive training.

More than 350 sailors graduated at the ceremony. At the PIR, Candee was honored to receive the Navy League Award from Rear Admiral Margaret Kibben. This award is presented to the graduating recruit whose enthusiasm, supportive attitude and willingness to help others during their training period exceeded Navy training standards.

Candee is now based in South Carolina attending “A-school,” having met the initial qualifications to enter the Navy’s Nuclear Power School, and will receive intensive training over the next several years in nuclear power engineering.